Report on the International Vocal Arts Institute

 

Rejieli Paulo

29 July 2005

I am continuing to learn a great deal about my technique and new repertoire during my training in Tel Aviv. I have been having daily lessons with an amazing teacher called Mignon Dunn. She has asked me to move to New York and also has arranged for me to have immediate entry into Brooklyn Conservatorium for now, where I have been offered the role of Countess and then in the fall, a large scholarship to attend the Manhattan School of Music. I have received so much support and encouragement here, I feel so blessed because of the people that I have met and the opportunities that I have been given since beginning on my journey of striving to have an operatic career.

We have very busy schedules 10-6, though last night, I worked on the Rosenkavalier trio till 8:15 pm. The staff and the students are all amazing people and unexpectedly – I love Tel Aviv and feel very safe! Thank you again to all of you for the dedicated work that you do to make prizes like the Nelly Apt Scholarship possible. I arrived without expectations and am learning more about myself and my technique than I have in the past few years. I’m really beginning to believe that I could have a singing career – I couldn’t have had these priceless experiences without your tireless efforts, thank you so much.

We finish today at 1pm, so I will receive my first break and spend it visiting the old city of Jaffo, take a look at the Arab markets and continue learning new music while enjoying the sun and the sand. Tel Aviv is an absolutely beautiful place, I will be returning!

Well, I should go and have my shower to begin the day refreshed and invigorated! Take care and know that Andrew and I are safe and well and are also being sensible and alert. We’re enjoying each others company and have met many wonderful people – we are already identified as “the clique” – there is a group of singers that have fallen in love with each other since we met and get along like a house on fire – we emotionally and professionally support each other and sit together for lunch and go out together for dinner. We have also already organised future meetings together, including IVAI next year if we can afford it.

24 December 2005

During July of this year, I was finally able to take up my Nelly Apt scholarship in Tel Aviv that I won in 2001 as part of the Australian Singing Competition at the Sydney Opera House. I was amazed at the level of training and experience provided as part of the program during the Israel Vocal Arts Institute. I had the rare opportunity to have daily singing lessons with Mignon Dunn… one of America’s well known Mezzos, she was amazing and I learned so much. I worked with coaches from the Met Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Teatro la Fenice, Atelier Lyrique De L’Opera de Montreal, San Francisco Opera, and Julliard just to name a few. I was also fortunate to find time to enjoy the sun in Tel Aviv which helped me to imagine that I was back in Beautiful Australia.